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Timor Leste U-23s

Hosts Singapore’s hopes of advancing to the semi-finals of the 2015 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games were handed a boost on Wednesday after they were handed a fairly favourable draw.

Seeded as hosts for the Under-23 tournament, the Lions were drawn in Group A alongside Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Philippines.

With only the top two progressing to the last four, it looks like Singapore will be battling for qualification with the Indonesians and Myanmar.

Nonetheless, Cambodia will be confident in their prospects having recorded a 2-1 win over Singapore just last month, while Philippines have taken huge strides in recent years and are now considered a legitimate threat in the region.

But it appears most of the drama will come in Group B after defending champions Thailand were pitted against 2011 winners Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste.

Under Kiatisuk Senamuang, who also guided the senior team to victory at the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup, the Thais are favourites to finish top with Malaysia and Vietnam expected to battle it out for the second qualifying berth.

However, with the likes of Soukaphone Vongchiengkham and Ketsada Souksavanh to call upon, Laos could just spring an upset or two along the way.

Thailand finished their Group E campaign at the 2015 Asian Games in Incheon with a perfect record after claiming a dominant 6-0 win over Indonesia on Tuesday.

The War Elephants took the lead at the Incheon Football Stadium after seven minutes when Charyl Chappuis raced through down the right before unselfishly playing the ball back to Chananan Pombuppha, who made no mistake in slotting into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes later, it was 2-0 after Adisak Kraisorn received a cutback from Nurul Sriyankem and lashed an unstoppable first-time shot into the back of the net.

Despite their healthy advantage, the Thais showed no signs of taking their foot off the pedal and Chanathip Songkrasin was next to strike; reacting quickest after Kurnia Meiga Hermansyah had punched a cross clear to the edge of the box and sending a low volley past the floored custodian.

Chanathip then turned provider in the 75th minute when he found space inside the box and played a perfectly-weighted cross to the back post for Kroekrit Thaweekarn to sweep home, as Thailand effectively put the result beyond doubt.

Still, they continued to push forward relentlessly and added a fifth six minutes later after Pinyo Inpinit beat the offside trap and raced through before dispatching his shot into the bottom corner.

And in the 90th minute, the rout was completed as Adisak grabbed his second of the evening after making his way in behind the opposition defence and beating Meiga with another emphatic finish.

Thailand will now meet China in an enticing last-16 tie, while the Indonesians will face off against Group F winners Korea DPR.

In the group’s other clash, Timor-Leste’s tournament came to an end with no points to their names after they were defeated 3-2 by Maldives at the Ansan Wa~ Stadium.

Things were initially looking good for them when Diogo Rangel fired them in front from the spot in the 20th minute, only for Amdhan Ali to equalise for Maldives seven minutes later.

Timor-Leste edged ahead once more two minutes before the hour mark when Ricardo Sousa netted, only for their opponents to hit back again through a Moosa Yaamin strike in the 62nd minute.

11 minutes later, the Maldivians completed their comeback as Mohamed Irufaan struck the winner to hand them maximum points and inflict a third consecutive loss on O Sol Nascente.

Meanwhile, Vietnam also completed their group-stage campaign with an unblemished record after beating Kyrgyzstan 1-0 at the Ansan Wa~ Stadium to make it two wins in a row.

Following a goalless first half, the Vietnamese were handed the perfect opportunity to break the deadlock when they were awarded a penalty after Vu Minh Tuan’s right-wing cross had been handled by Azamat Baimatov inside the box.

And it was Minh Tuan who stepped up to the plate and clinically beat Valery Kashuba from 12 yards, which was ultimately enough for maximum points.

Next up for Vietnam in the Round of 16 are United Arab Emirates, who qualified after finishing behind Jordan as runners-up of Group G.

Thailand are through to the knockout round at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon after claiming a 3-0 win over Timor-Leste on Thursday evening.

The War Elephants took the lead at the Incheon Football Stadium in the 22nd minute when Pakorn Prempak was left in acres of space inside the box but unselfishly cut the ball back to Chanathip Songkrasin, who lashed a powerful volley into the bottom corner.

A minute before the hour mark, it was 2-0 and this time Chanathip turned provider after pouncing on a loose ball inside the area and squaring it to Kroekrit Thaweekarn, paving the way for the midfielder to drill an unstoppable effort past Ramos Maxanche.

And with 11 minutes remaining ,they went on to wrap up the three points after Pinyo Inpinit forced his way past the last defender to latch onto a neat flick by Chanathip, before advancing on goal and coolly finishing.

Although there is still one game remaining in the group stage, Thailand are now guaranteed a top-two finish in Group E along with fellow Southeast Asian side Indonesia, who booked their spot in the last 16 with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Maldives.

Ramdhani Lestaluhu got Merah Putih on their way after 12 minutes when he beat the offside trap to break free just outside the six-yard box and blasted the opener into the roof of the net.

The Indonesians then doubled their lead four minutes into the second half when Fandi Eko raced down the right and played a cross right at the feet of Ferdinand Sinaga, who eased inside a defender before firing past Mohamed Jazlaan.

The contest was effectively over eight minutes when Bayu Gatra Sanggiawan added a third for his side; exchanging a lovely one-two with Sinaga inside the area before sending a looping shot into the back of the net.

But just for good measure, Indonesia added a fourth eight minutes from time when Sinaga grabbed his second of the afternoon from the penalty spot, after Alfin Tuasalamony had been shoved over by Samdhooh Mohamed inside the box.

Although they were not in action on Thursday, Vietnam are also through to the knockout round after Kyrgyzstan’s 1-1 draw with Iran secured them a top-two spot in Group H.

Having beaten the Iranians 4-1 in their opening game, Vietnam are safely through to the last 16 and only need to avoid defeat against Kyrgyzstan on Monday to finish top.

Vietnam got off to a flying start at the 2015 Asian Games in Incheon after claiming a stunning 4-1 win over Iran at the Ansan Wa~ Stadium on Monday.

Although they entered the Group H match as huge underdogs, Vietnam edged ahead in the 24th minute when Mac Hong Quan cleverly broke free down the right before playing the ball to the back post for Vo Huy Toan to smash home.

Iran did pull one back six minutes after the hour mark through a Mohsen Mosalman penalty, which was awarded after Mehdi Sharifi had been hacked down by opposition keeper Tran Buu Ngoc just inside the area.

However, it took the Vietnamese just three minutes to restore their two-goal cushion as Tran Phi Son broke into the box after exchanging a neat one-two before rifling the ball into the back of the net.

The rout was then completed in the 82nd minute when Ngo Hoang Thinh lined up an indirect freekick and smashed the ball home from eight yards, after Segdhi had been penalised for catching a back-pass.

And to make matters worse for the Iranians, they finished the game with ten men following a red card to Khanzadeh, who was booked for clattering into Buu Ngoc before being shown a second yellow moments later for shoving over an opponent.

With only three teams in their group, Vietnam are almost certain to qualify for the knockout round and are in action again on September 22 when they take on Krygyzstan.

Over in Group E, Indonesia got off to a flyer as they claimed an emphatic 7-0 triumph over neighbours Timor Leste at the Goyang Stadium.

Ferdinand Sinaga opened the scoring after seven minutes when he was left with a simple tap-in, after Bayu Gatra Sanggiawan had hit the byline and cut the ball back to him.

Merah Putih then doubled their lead four minutes later when Syakir Sulaiman touched a cross into the path of Sinaga to leave him with another close-range finish.

The Persib Bandung forward then completed his hat-trick five minutes after the half-hour mark when he raced through after beating the offside trap, before firing away a left-footed shot that took a wicked deflection and looped over a hapless Ramos Maxanches.

Despite holding a comfortable lead, the Indonesians were in no mood to take their foot off the pedal and added a fourth in the 75th minute; Alfin Tuasalamony converting from 12 yards after his side had been awarded a penalty.

Novri Setiawan was next to get in on the act as he skipped past Maxanches after being played through by Fandi Eko’s lovely pass before slotting into the unguarded net six minutes later.

Sinaga was also not done yet and notched his fourth of the evening in the 83rd minute after skipping inside Paulo Cesar da Silva Martins and firing into the back of the net.

And the rout was completed five minutes before the end as Sinaga’s blistering drive could only be parried by Maxanches, leaving Fandi with the simple task of volleying home on the rebound.

Group E’s second game saw Thailand also kick off their campaign with a win after they defeated Maldives 2-0.

Following a goalless first half, the War Elephants broke the deadlock when Narubodin Weerawatnodom climbed highest inside the six-yard box to head home Kroekrit Thaweekarn’s corner.

Nonetheless, they were unable to seal the win until the 85th minute when their second goal arrived after Adisak Kraisorn met a right-wing delivery and clinically swept a first-time effort into the far corner.

Thailand and Myanmar stayed joint-top of Group B in the 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after both played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

It was the hosts who took the lead at the Thuwunna Stadium when Nay Lin Tun struck in the 33rd minute; rising highest in the opposition area and finding the net with a powerful header.

However, Thailand hit back two minutes after the break when Pravinwat Boonyong netted for the second match in a row, which ultimately proved enough to force the draw.

The result leaves the War Elephants top of the group ahead of Myanmar on goals scored as both have a goal difference of five.

In Saturday’s earlier kickoff, Indonesia’s hopes of making the semi-finals were dealt a real blow as they were held to a 0-0 draw by neighbours Timor Leste.

Group B action concludes on Monday and Myanmar only need to avoid a four-goal defeat to Merah Putih to progress, while Thailand can guarantee their spot in the last four with anything better than a draw against bottom side Cambodia.

Thailand moved one step closer to the semi-finals of the 2013 Southeast Asian Games after claiming an impressive 4-1 win over Indonesia at the Thuwunna Stadium on Thursday.

Having had a bye in the last Group B match-day on Monday, the War Elephants returned to action against an Indonesia side that toiled to a 1-0 win over Cambodia in their campaign opener.

And it took Kiatisuk Senamuang’s charges just two minutes to open the scoring when Pokkhao Anan netted his second goal of the tournament when he drilled a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, before Buriram United striker Adisak Kraisorn made it 2-0 in the 20th minute when he raced through and finished after the opposition defence failed to deal with Kawin Thamsatchanan’s long ball.

Thailand were then awarded a controversial penalty six minutes after the break when Andri Ibo hauled down Adisak and the referee pointed to the spot even though contact appeared to have been made outside the box; Pravinwat Boonyong stepping up and making no mistake in firing home.

And nine minutes from time, it became a real rout when Thitipan Puangchan added a fourth when he latched onto Chanathip Songkrasin’s neat pass and sent an emphatic 20-yard drive into the top corner.

Nonetheless, Indonesia did manage to grab a consolation in the first minute of injury-time through a ferocious Andri Ibo strike, but they now have plenty to do if they are to pip the Thais and Myanmar to a place in the last four.

In Thursday’s other game, Timor Leste picked up their first points of the campaign after beating bottom side Cambodia 3-2.

It was Cambodia who had taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Sos Suhana scored on the rebound after Phuong Soksana’s initial shot had been saved, but the Timorese equalised five minutes later when Jose Carlos da Fonseca netted with a close-range finish.

Timor Leste then went ahead three minutes before the break after Pedro Henrique raced through down the left and coolly fired inside the near post, only for Prak Mony Udom to pull the opposition level in the 70th minute.

But two minutes from time, Emerson Alcantara’s charges claimed all three points thanks to Diogo Santos Rangel, who lined up a freekick on the edge of the box and curled a lovely effort past the wall and into the back of the net.

Indonesia opened their 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign on Monday afternoon with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Cambodia at the Thuwunna Stadium.

Merah Putih, who were not in action in Group B’s opening match day at the weekend, were expected to comfortably see off a Cambodia side that were beaten 3-0 by Myanmar on Saturday.

However, their opponents showed plenty of fight although Indonesia ultimately claimed all three points thanks to Yandi Sofyan Munawar’s 53rd-minute winner.

In the day’s late kickoff, hosts Myanmar moved top of the group by making it two wins from two after beating Timor Leste 3-1.

Captain Kyaw Zayar Win fired the White Angels ahead after 13 minutes when his lovely freekick had Ramos Manxances beaten all ends up, but the Timorese stunned the home crowd by equalising seven minutes before the break; Jairo Neto stabbing home on the rebound after his initial header had been saved by Pyae Phyo Aung.

But in the 72nd minute, Myanmar reclaimed the lead through a Kyaw Ko Ko penalty after Paulo Martins had committed a foul on Kyi Lin, who then wrapped up the win six minutes later with a fine individual effort.

The win was enough to keep the hosts top of Group B, while Thailand and Indonesia, who have both played only one game, remain joint-second with three points.